My Neighborhood

If you had moved into my apartment building three years ago, you might have thought "This neighbiorhood is kind of weird, but it's not bad."

If you visited my neighborhood today you might think "It's kind of strange, but tolerable."

If you were to visit my apartment tonight (or any night) you would think "This place is trashy. The people are idiots and the neighborhood is becoming a slum."

And you would be right.

I've watched some decent people move out. They all leave for various reasons, but most of them either have small children or are expecting them when they leave. I've watched a ton of nasty, creepy, moronic people move in. They like to yell a lot at various hours of the night (and day), walk around with their beer bellies exposed (male and female), drive their car or truck down the road at 50mph (all the while it sounds like it will explode) or let their incredibly young children wander the street until well after midnight (they like to ride their bikes and big wheelers under the streetlight).

Yep, my neighborhood has gone down the crapper. It makes me sad and upset.

If the landlords would be a bit more selective, the neighborhood would change for the better. The buildings wouldn't be abused as they are now, and more cool people would want to move in. The nicer the neighborhood becomes, the more they could increase rent and make more money, which will also change the demographic of the residents.

But the landlords don't get it and don't care. They want their easy money now. Nevermind the fact that in the next 5 years these buildings will have to be renovated due to the way the current residents live their pathetic, dingy, derelict lives.

Money talks and the landlords are so near-sighted that they don't see that their investment is quickly becoming a ghetto.

I can't wait to move out of here. I'm hoping that happens in October.
Until then, I lose sleep to the inconsiderate embeciles who like to stand outside my window and yell in conversation with each other at 3am.

I want a place where I can walk down the street and say "Hello" to someone and stop and chat for a while.
I want to not worry about those neighborhood children out late at night.
I want to live in a place where my visitors feel safe and welcome and not intimidated, fearful, disgusted or embarrassed.

Oh, how I long for that day...